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Ambassador Nimi Akinkugbe

Profile of Ambassador Nimi Akinkugbe

Ambassador Nimi Akinkugbe

Ambassador

Nimi Akinkugbe is Nigeria’s Ambassador to Greece. A personal finance and wealth management expert who transitioned from a banking career in the corporate world to pursue her entrepreneurial dream in educational gaming, the latest phase of her career journey is in public service representing Nigeria in the Hellenic Republic.

Mrs Akinkugbe enjoyed a successful banking career spanning 23 years first at Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc where she rose to the position of General Manager and Head, Private Banking and Director Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd. Subsequently, she joined Barclays Bank Plc as Regional Director (West Africa) for the Wealth & Investment Management Division and Chief Country Officer for Nigeria.

After a fulfilling banking career, she founded Bestman Games Ltd, the African distributor of customized editions of Monopoly, Hasbro’s world-famous game. The City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly, launched in December 2012, was the first ever, African city edition of Monopoly.

 

Achieving financial security ranks as a major source of concern for the Nigerian family, and for nearly two decades Nimi Akinkugbe has sought to harness financial literacy and inclusion as tools for youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic development. Under the auspices of the brand “Money Matters with Nimi,” through speaking engagements, seminars, webinars, television and radio, articles in leading publications, social media, the Monopoly Board Game and her book, A – Z of Personal Finance, she provides frank, practical insights to create a greater awareness and understanding of personal finance and wealth management issues.

Nimi holds a Bachelors’ Degree (BSc Economics – International Relations) from London School of Economics (LSE) and an MBA from IESE at Lagos Business School. She also formalized her interest in music by obtaining a Piano Teaching Diploma (ARCM) from The Royal College of Music, London.

Nimi has served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Standard Chartered Bank Ltd. She was also appointed to the inaugural board of Nigeria Exchange Group Plc. Other directorships include House of Tara International, The PlayPen (Child Development Centre).

She is a member of the Artistes Committee of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) and the Institute of Directors. (IoD) She is an Honorary Assistant Organist at Our Saviour’s Church TBS.

In her spare time, Nimi is a keen orchid gardener, loves boating, writing, traveling and playing the piano.